One of Britain's most successful sailors has accused the BBC of promoting an "elitist"
view of his sport and failing to give it sufficient coverage.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said the corporation was obsessed with football and cricket and had forgotten we are a maritime nation.

He said the country had developed "sea blindness" and claimed sailing was in fact open to all - "whether a bricklayer or Duke."

But without publicity our young sailors struggle to get sponsorship and therefore compete on an international scale, added the 74-year-old, who was the first man to complete a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.

His comments, which were supported by Olympic gold medalist Sir Ben Ainslie, come after the BBC failed to give any national coverage to the start of the world's biggest offshore race on Sunday.

Around 350 yachts set sail from The Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, Isle of Wight, on the 608 mile Fastnet race. But it was only covered by local news programmes on the south coast.